Sitcoms

Lots of space being taken up in newspapers, magazines and on the Innerwebs about the new “gaycoms” on network television this season — especially “The New Normal” on NBC and “Partners” on CBS.

I’ve blogged about this a couple of times in my “Things That Interest Me” section (HERE) and (HERE).

I’m bringing this over into the Marketing area now because I want you to think about how the innovative web series “Husbands” differs tremendously from the network sitcom “Partners.”

I find that there is a savviness and a fluidity to the writing on “Husbands” that I don’t see on “Partners.” And I think that’s because it exists on the web and does not suffer from the restrictions from producers, from the network, from the advertisers, and, quite frankly, from the money. Oh yeah, money restricts you. In my experience, a lot of great art is created on a shoestring while a lot of mediocre art is foisted on us by those wearing Manolo Blahniks.

“Partners” on CBS, developed by Kohan and Mutchnick, the team that also created “Will & Grace.”

“Partners,” I find is muddy; “Husbands” is crisp. A lot — okay, most — web series suffer from pretty bad acting and storytelling that will get you a C+ in most college level Creative Writing classes, but “Husbands” sets itself apart by using excellent talent and having excellent writers. The first season of 11 very short episodes functions, in aggregate, as a 22 minute pilot episode, but I’m glad they decided not to go to television because it’s better without the restrictions.

Here’s why I wanted to put this story here: how effective are you telling your story in the medium that you are telling it? When you find the right medium, you’ll be better able to find the right message. (My, what a very meta riff on McLuhan.)